Topic Contents

Do I Have Depression?

Topic Overview

Read the following information to help you decide whether you might have
depression. It does not take the place of a doctor's
diagnosis.

Depression causes you to feel sad and hopeless much of
the time. It's different from normal feelings of sadness, grief, or low energy.
Depression is a medical problem that needs treatment. If you think you may be
depressed, see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment right away. Untreated
depression may get worse.

You may have major depression if you
have at least five of the symptoms listed below for 2 weeks or longer and one
of the symptoms is either sadness or loss of interest. You may:

Feel sad, hopeless, or empty. Others might have
noticed that you appear sad or tearful.

Lose interest in or not get
pleasure from most daily activities.

Lose or gain weight because of
changes in how hungry you feel.

Sleep too much or not
enough.

Feel restless and not able to sit still, or sit quietly and
feel that moving takes great effort.

Feel tired all the
time.

Feel unworthy or guilty for no reason. You may worry that
people don't like you.

Find it hard to focus, remember things, or
make decisions.

A serious symptom of depression is thinking about death and
suicide. If you or someone you care about talks about suicide or feeling
hopeless, get help right away.

Learn the
warning signs of suicide, which include talking a lot
about death, giving things away, or using a lot of alcohol, drugs, or both. If
you see these signs in yourself or a loved one, get help.

If you
think you may have depression, take this short quiz to check your
symptoms:

If you have fewer symptoms, you may still be depressed and
need treatment. No matter how many symptoms you have, it's important to see
your doctor. The sooner you get treatment, the better your chance for a quick
and full recovery.

There are several types of depression that may
have different symptoms and patterns. These include:

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
People who have seasonal affective disorder are depressed only at a certain
time each year, usually in the fall and winter months.

Postpartum depression. Women who become depressed after the birth of a child may have postpartum depression.

Dysthymic disorder (chronic mild
depression) occurs when a person has only 2 to 4 symptoms of depression for a
period of at least 2 years.

Double depression. This occurs when a
person with dysthymia also has an episode of major
depression.

Adjustment disorder with depression. Sometimes a
stressful situation can cause temporary symptoms of depression that improve
after the crisis is resolved.

If you think you have depression after reviewing this list,
print the list and circle those symptoms that you have. Take the list to your
doctor.

If your depression is related to a health problem, such as
hypothyroidism, treating the disease usually cures the
depression.
Substance abuse also may cause depression that is
cured when the substance abuse is stopped. Substance abuse also can be a sign
of depression.

If you have just lost someone you care about, you
may have symptoms similar to those of depression. Feelings of sadness, sorrow,
and grief are normal. And most people start to feel better over several months.
But if you feel very sad or depressed, your symptoms don't go away, or you
think about killing or hurting yourself, see your doctor. You may need
treatment.

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